It is the policy of the West Clare Walking Club to provide a safe and healthy club for all our members, and visitors and to observe all State legislation and regulations.

We have and will continue to maintain a safety and health programme designed to guide our members to follow safe practices, which will recognise and correct unsafe conditions.

Safety is a part of each member’s job. Active participation and adherence to our safety system is a condition of each member’s membership. No member is required to participate in something that he or she knows is not safe.

Therefore, we must work to make every member safe by detecting and correcting unsafe conditions. This also includes detecting unsafe practices and reporting any defects in plant, equipment or unsafe practices to your Club Chairman.

Our safety policy has equal importance with the Club’s policies of providing the best quality and most productive service in our institution.

It is our goal to completely eliminate accidents and injuries. Because of the many different hazards of our activities, we must maintain a constant safety awareness to achieve this goal.

I earnestly request your co-operation in playing your part to eliminate accidents in our club so that we can all enjoy our leisure time free from any injuries sustained while involved in club activities.

Under the relevant legislation, the Safety Statement is seen as the essential ingredient in the formula for the implementation and management of safety, health and welfare procedures within the club. Its purpose is to identify the policy and procedures that the club is going to use in order to effectively carry out these tasks.

All members including the visitors are required under this legislation to identify the hazards and assess the risks during club outings & walks and to put these details in a written format and also to specify the manner in which the safety, health and welfare of its members and other related persons is to be secured.

This written format is the safety statement. One could best describe this as a living document because it is constantly being reviewed and updated in order to ensure its effectiveness and purpose.

Simply put, a safety statement is the clubs plan on how it will manage matters relating to the health and safety of its members, visitors and other affected by the clubs activities.

The terms of the safety statement must be brought to the attention of the members and other persons who may be affected by this document. The safety statement must be reviewed annually.

This is a living document and should be constantly revised and updated in line with changes in work practices, Club structures and any changes in legislation.

INTRODUCTION TO OUR SAFETY STATEMENT

To: All Members, and Visitors

This Safety Statement sets out the safety programme of the West Clare Walking Club, and specifies the manner in which it is to be achieved in accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, in particular the requirement to carry out & record risk assessments as well as adhering to all other associated regulations and legislation where applicable.

Our club will have as a constant objective, the creation and maintenance of a safe leisure environment. This statement specifies the manner in which it is going to achieve the objective of making our entire clubs safe places to work, in so far as is reasonably practical.

Members should pay particular attention to the section outlining the hazards and risks as indicated in this document & any other dynamic risk assessments brought to their attention on any club activities and the controls to eliminate or reduce the risks involved in club activities.

All steps to ensure your safety are taken by the West Clare Walking Club but you also have your own legal and moral responsibilities for your own safety and that of other club members. You must participate in club activities safely and do everything you can to avoid accidents in our club.

The West Clare Walking Club will review and where necessary revise the Health and Safety and Welfare Policy to reflect any change in the club’s undertaking and will continue to give priority to the health and safety of members and the general public

The West Clare Walking Club undertakes to bring the policy statement and revision of it to the notice of all members.

(1)

Risk assessment & standard operating procedure

Organisation

West Clare Walking Club

RA/SOP Number

Task/Activity

Walking on High & Low level terrain

Date

Assessor

Key hazards associated with the above task/activity.

1

Lack of navigational skills for planned route - Getting lost

2

Losing map/compass Unable to navigate

3

Loss of daylight hours Navigating in the dark and greater risk of getting lost. Increased risk of trips, slips and falls

4

Benightment - Not finding shelter, lack of food/fluid. Effects of the cold.

5

Rough/uneven/slippery terrain- Injury to foot/leg/body from trip, slip or fall